IT’S all back to normal this weekend as the Christmas and New Year’s festivities fade into the memory banks and everyone is immersed in their every day work and play.

As far as rugby is concerned, it’s the first full week of the 2018 league fixtures with all our sides in action, London Irish and Redingensians the two who played last weekend.

It was another narrow loss for Exiles as they went down at Leicester Tigers, and while they battled bravely, they really need some wins to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.

They welcome Russian side Krasny Yar to Madejski Stadium on Saturday in the European Challenge Cup, and hopefully a big win will help build some confidence.

However, undoubtedly the pick of Saturday’s games comes from Old Bath Road, where third-placed Redingensians welcome promotion rivals Chinnor, who have drawn one and lost for the first time this season against London Irish Wild Geese last time out.

Nine points separate the sides and it’s a stern test for Rams, but they are in great form and unbeaten in their last five outings having won 11 of their last 12.

They’ve never been this high up the league pyramid and are in confident mood, and a victory would really set things up for the rest of the season.

My boys Reading host Berkshire rivals Windsor, who are currently third in the Southern Counties North table and bang in form, having won their last six, scoring 238 points and conceding just 43.

We had two big wins before Christmas as well, though, so hopefully the lads will come out firing and make it three in a row.

Sixth-placed Reading Abbey will look to overhaul the side one above them, Aylesbury, when they head to Buckinghamshire, while down in the BB&O Championship, Berkshire Shire Hall visit Chipping Norton.